Biologist-Big Cat Specialist to Age a Leopard Skull?

[Shakka]

Hi everyone, I am wondering if anyone here knows of a Biologist or Big Cat specialist, etc who would be able to tell me the age of a Leopard Skull.

I have allot of good pictures of the skull and teeth, and I have had several professional hunters guess the age but I would like to have a Biologist take a look at it.

Does anyone here know of such a person??

PS: Parks in Zambia did NOT age it

Thank You in Advance

 

[buck wild]

Not specifically what you are looking for but I found this research project into aging leopards in the field based on TC photos to be insightful. As with another West Texas mule deer study, hunters do poorly field aging.

Applicability of Age-Based Hunting Regulations for African Leopards

In species in which juvenile survival depends strongly on male tenure, excessive trophy hunting can artificially elevate male turnover and increase infanticide, potentially to unsustainable levels. Simulation models show that the likelihood of safe harvests ...

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

3 main traits- dewlap, scarring and nose coloration

 

[Anbessa Gedai]

Matson's Lab' in Montana (https://matsonslab.com/contact/)
has been performing professional mammal age estimates for years.
They perform analysis for many state's Wildlife Departments, AND private individuals.
Contact them for all the details . . if you really want to know the most accurate age estimate that technology will provide . .

 

[Shakka]

Not specifically what you are looking for but I found this research project into aging leopards in the field based on TC photos to be insightful. As with another West Texas mule deer study, hunters do poorly field aging.

Applicability of Age-Based Hunting Regulations for African Leopards

In species in which juvenile survival depends strongly on male tenure, excessive trophy hunting can artificially elevate male turnover and increase infanticide, potentially to unsustainable levels. Simulation models show that the likelihood of safe harvests ...

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

3 main traits- dewlap, scarring and nose coloration

Buck, I read this already but thank you so much for posting that!!

 

[Shakka]

Matson's Lab' in Montana (https://matsonslab.com/contact/)
has been performing professional mammal age estimates for years.
They perform analysis for many state's Wildlife Departments, AND private individuals.
Contact them for all the details . . if you really want to know the most accurate age estimate that technology will provide . .

Gedai, that is awesome! How on earth did you find that? I hope that they do leopards

I am going to reach out to them

 

[fourfive8]

One of the better techniques has been around since at least the mid 60s- early 70s. Usually a tooth, like a premolar, is sectioned, stained and the cementum annuli counted. Very accurate method for aging. The reliability of the data is dependent upon the training and experience of the technician.